Review: A VERY HARLEQUIN HOLIDAY CHRISTMAS SAMPLER

5 Stars

A delightfully variant sampler collection from five prolific and popular authors of romance and women's fiction, designed to warm hearts and stimulate minds. Delectably set to release on Christmas Day (2019). 

Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge!

Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge is:
Nov. 25-Jan. 6 at:
2019-Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge

Goal: Christmas 🎄 Level: 5-6 Books

Christmas Books I've read:

1. A KING JAMES CHRISTMAS
2. LOST CHILD OF LYCHFORD by Paul Cornell
(Christmastime)
3. JAMES THE CHRISTMAS GROUCH by Ivy Smoak (Christmas Spirit. Romance. Light Erotica.)
4. YULETIDE HAUNTING AT LIVINGSTON MANOR by Cat Knight
 (British, Rural, Horror)
5. THE THREE CHRISTMASES OF WILLIAM SPENCER by Derek Blount. Inspirational
6. GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS PAST AND OTHER DARK TALES by Sam Kates. British, Horror
7. BEWITCH YOU A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS by N. M. Howell. Paranormal, Cozy Mystery 

8.CHRISTMAS CALAMITY AT THE VICARAGE by Emily Organ. English, Cozy Mystery (classic style)

9. THE CORRUPTION OF ALTON HOUSE by John Quick. Middle Tennessee. Horror. November-Thanksgiving-prelude to Christmas.
10. DECK THE BLOODY HALLS by Carrie Bates. Super-scary Christmas Eve horror.
11. A CHRISTMAS EVE HAUNTING: CLARK MANSION by Carrie Bates.
12. A CHRISTMAS HAUNTING: THE TRUTH REVEALED by Carrie King and Caroline Clark.
13. CHRISTMAS PARTY: A SHORT STORY by Mary Hiker (Search-and-Rescue Unit dogs)
14. THE TWELVE DICE OF CHRISTMAS by Gail Oust. SC Cozy.
15. A CHRISTMAS EVE HAUNTING by Riley Amitrani (NJ, Horror)
16.THE CHRISTMAS HAUNTING OF ROBINSON MANOR by Riley Amitrani (Utah, Horror)
17. SNOWBALL by Gregory Bastiannelli. NH Christmas Eve/Day Horror.
18. AVERY MEETS CHEVY by Mary Hiker. Cozy. Dog. NC. Christmas.
18. FLYNN'S CHRISTMAS by Anna Elliott. Sherlock.
19. THE CHRISTMAS WALK CAPER by JB Michaels. Illinois. Cozy Mystery.
20. THE BLAZE by Chris Dundas. Montana, Mystery, Iraq. TBI.
21. I REMEMBER YOU by Yrsa Sigurdsdottir. Iceland: Christmastime. Supernatural.
22. LAST RITUALS by Yrsa Sigurdsdottir. Iceland: Christmastime. Contemporary/Historical.
23. 50 CHRISTMAS DROP COOKIE RECIPES.
24. INHERITANCE by Michael Richan. Downwinders Book 9. Christmas novella. Jan. Release.
25. CAT NOEL by Mollie Hun
26. CHRISTMAS  EVE IN THE MULTIVERSE by RE McLean.
27. THE TWELVE STRANGE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS by Syd Moore.
28. THE HOUSEKEEPER: A CHRISTMAS GHOST STORY by Leona Grace.
29. THE DIARY OF MR. PAYNTER by M. R. James.

Children's Christmas:

UNICORN FOR CHRISTMAS: Children's book by Sigal Adler.
ZETTA THE POINSETTIA by Alma Hammond.
TWELVE DOGS OF CHRISTMAS by Kevin Whitlark.
ROCKY: THE ROCKEFELLER CHRISTMAS TREE
A CHRISTMAS COOKIE EXCHANGE by Sherri Wall
MR. HOOPEYLOOPS SAVES CHRISTMAS.
MY FIRST BOOK OF CHRISTMAS  CAROLS. Junior Elf Edition
THE NIGHT BEFORE  CHRISTMAS  by Clement Clark  Moore. Junior Elf  Edition

SEMOUR SEAL'S CHRISTMAS  PRESENT by Andy Rector 

Christmas Spirit Readathon 2019

Christmas Spirit Readathon
Nov. 25-Dec. 8

I'm participating in HoHoHo Readathon Nov. 8-17, and boy do I have Christmas and Holiday and Winter books in abundance!

Sign up here!: Christmas Spirit Readathon 2019

and Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge is:
Nov. 28-Jan. 6 at:
2019-Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge

Christmas Spirit Readathon:

Christmas Books I've read:

A KING JAMES CHRISTMAS

LOST CHILD OF LYCHFORD by Paul Cornell
_Christmastime)

JAMES THE CHRISTMAS GROUCH by Ivy Smoak
(Christmas spirit/romance/light erotica)

YULETIDE HAUNTING AT LIVINGSTON MANOR by Cat Knight
 (British, Rural, Horror)

THE THREE CHRISTMASES OF WILLIAM SPENCER by Derek Blount. Inspirational.

GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS PAST AND OTHER DARK TALES by Sam Kates. British, Horror.

BEWITCH YOU A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS by N. M. Howell. Paranormal, Cozy Mystery

CHRISTMAS CALAMITY AT THE VICARAGE by Emily Organ. English, Cozy Mystery (classic style)

THE CORRUPTION OF ALTON HOUSE by John Quick. Middle Tennessee. Horror. November-Thanksgiving-prelude to Christmas.

DECK THE BLOODY HALLS by Carrie Bates. Super-scary Christmas Eve horror.

A CHRISTMAS EVE HAUNTING: CLARK MANSION by Carrie Bates.

A CHRISTMAS HAUNTING: THE TRUTH REVEALED by Carrie King and Caroline Clark.

CHRISTMAS PARTY: A SHORT STORY by Mary Hiker (Search-and-Rescue Unit dogs)

THE TWELVE DICE OF CHRISTMAS by Gail Oust. (SC Cozy).

A CHRISTMAS EVE HAUNTING by Riley Amitrani (NJ, Horror)

THE CHRISTMAS HAUNTING OF ROBINSON MANOR by Riley Amitrani (Utah, Horror)





CHILDREN:
UNICORN FOR CHRISTMAS: Children's book by Sigal Adler

ZETTA THE POINSETTIA by Alma Hammond

THE TWELVE DOGS OF CHRISTMAS by Kevin Whitlark

ROCKY: THE ROCKEFELLER CHRISTMAS TREE

A CHRISTMAS COOKIE EXCHANGE by Sherri Wall

Review_ MY WINTER CITY

5 Stars!

What a beautifully lyrical evocation of urban freeze, buses and pedestrians and sledding, frozen breath and icicle pendant and slowing of time! Clever illustrations and text that strums all the senses with winter's delights ensure an engaging book for elementary to middle-grade readers.

Review: THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST

5 Stars

I love my heroes feckless and my heroines feisty, and a heapin' helping of sharp-edged villain just garnishes the tale nicely. We've got all that and well done in Angie Fox's Holiday cozy mystery, THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST, Book 8.5 in THE SOUTHERN GHOST HUNTER MYSTERIES. 

Downtrodden but feisty and strong-willed inadvertent Tennessee ghost hunter Verity has her work cut out for her, both "on the job"

and with ice-edged future mother-in-law Virginia, town dowager. Author Angie Fox has a flair for character for certain.

Review: CHRISTMAS IN SILVER BELLS FALLS

5 Stars

Not generally a fan of either the Romance genre or the category of "contemporary women's fiction," but even I found CHRISTMAS IN SILVER BELLS FALLS entertaining (okay, even heartwarming). In several ways I was able to resonate with the protagonist and I appreciated her character evolution.

This novel is #1 in the SILVER BELLS FALLS series, set in Upstate New York close to the Canadian border.

Review: YULETIDE HOMICIDE (WICCAN WHEEL MYSTERIES)

5 Stars!
Review: Part of the WICCAN WHEEL MYSTERIES by Jennifer David Hesse, YULETIDE HOMICIDE is both a delight to read and an eye-opener, fully grounded in both real life (the protagonist/narrator is an attorney) and in mystical spirituality (she is also a Wiccan solitary practitioner). The mystery is pleasurably convoluted with a plethora of potential suspects, and there is strong friendship and a growing romantic element backing up the protagonist as she determines to use both intuition and facts to unravel first one case, then two, despite intensifying danger. I am eager to read others of this series.

2019_HOHOHO READATHON

November 8-17!

Sign up hohoho-readathon-november-2019-sign-up.html

My Goodreads Shelf:
2019_hohoho

Read: Total = 13 Books!

 YULETIDE HOMICIDE by Jennifer David Hesse
(Wiccan Wheel Mysteries)
https://malloryheartscozies.blogspot.com/2019/11/review-yuletide-homicide-wiccan-wheel.html?m=1

CHRISTMAS IN SILVER BELLS FALLS by
Samantha Crane
(Silver Bells Falls #1)
https://malloryheartscozies.blogspot.com/2019/11/review-christmas-in-silver-bells-falls.html?m=1

THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST by Angie Fox
(Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries 8.5)
https://malloryheartscozies.blogspot.com/2019/11/review-ghost-of-christmas-past.html?m=1

MY WINTER CITY. Children's. Canadian Challenge.
https://malloryheartscozies.blogspot.com/2019/11/review-my-winter-city.html?m=1

DREAD OF WINTER by Susan Alice Bickford. Upstate New York. Winter.
https://thehauntedreadingroom.blogspot.com/2019/11/review-dread-of-winter_68.html?m=1

OCCULT ASSASSIN: ICE SHADOWS by William Massa. Norway, Winter, Horror.
https://thehauntedreadingroom.blogspot.com/2019/11/review-ice-shadows.html?m=1

A VERY HARLEQUIN HOLIDAY CHRISTMAS SAMPLER.
https://malloryheartscozies.blogspot.com/2019/11/review-very-harlequin-holiday-christmas.html?m=1

TAAQTUMI Anthology of Arctic Horror.
https://thehauntedreadingroom.blogspot.com/2019/11/review-taaqtumi-anthology-of-arctic.html?m=1

INSIDE CUT by Tom Fowler. (Winter)
https://thehauntedreadingroom.blogspot.com/2019/11/review-inside-cut-ct-ferguson-crime.html?m=1

DYNO DINOSAUR FAMILY CHRISTMAS ADVENTURES by Sharida Mckenzie. Children's
 https://malloryheartscozies.blogspot.com/2019/11/reviewdyno-dinosaur-family-christmas.html?m=1

THE BODY IN THE SNOW by Nick Louth.
https://thehauntedreadingroom.blogspot.com/2019/11/review-body-in-snow.html?m=1

RABBIT HEART by Emily Deibler. (Winter)
 https://thehauntedreadingroom.blogspot.com/2019/11/review-rabbit-heart.html?m=1

THE COLD by Rich Hawkins (Snow, Apocalyptic)
https://thehauntedreadingroom.blogspot.com/2019/11/review-cold.html?m=1

Tour: BOUND IN FLAME by Katherine Kayne

5 Stars

A glorious "retelling" as alternate history of the Hawaiian Islands at the turn of the Century (19th-20th), with strong female heroines (multiple), paranormal elements founded and grounded in the Islands, the suffrage for women, and the rights of women to independence and careers; plus romance, animals, danger, and victories. Additionally, the author provides an inspiring and educational afterword about Hawaii's history and royal bloodline.

BOUND IN FLAME will appeal to fans of historic Romantic Suspense (think Phyllis A. Whitney and Victoria Holt), Alternative History (Harry Turtledove), history as-it-should-have-been and as it was, and readers eager for strong female characters. 

Review: KITTY CONFIDENTIAL by Molly Fitz

I adore a snarky, self-aware, heroine and when she mixes in with a snarky, egotistical, elitist talking feline, so much the better! An office appliance accident resulting in a near-death experience makes first-person narrator Angie Russo not only an unhappy paralegal, but the world's first "Pet Whisperer" P. I.! First in a series, this is a delightful cozy mystery.

Review: FINDING MIRANDA by Iris Chacon

5 stars

FINDING MIRANDA is Book 1 of the MINOKEE MYSTERIES, set in Little Cypress Forest in North Central Florida, in a tiny insular community, Minokee. No real estate sales, just lifetime living and inheritance. No businesses. 

It's problematical not to love a novel featuring a dog, a librarian, a sweet-hearted blind guy, and lots of suspense leavened with gentle humour. Fortunately I really enjoyed the story, and am gleefully anticipating the next (THE MAMMOTH MURDERS, release Nov. 1).

Review_ALONE by Scott Stuart

This charming children's picture book is a heartwarming tale of looking for friendship, starring Planet Earth. A lot of emotion here, but a welcome ending. Ideal for a bedtime tale.

Review: TIDE AND PUNISHMENT by Bree Baker

Murder isn't always spur of the moment; sometimes it's been long in the planning...

Christmastime in the quaint community of Charm, North Carolina, an island in the Outer Banks, has an unexpected blessing this year: 

Snow! And lots of it! But there's plenty of downside too, including a nasty murder and repeated attempts to frame Fran Swan, descendant of the founding family and aunt of protagonist Everley Swan, who operates the delightful Sun, Sand, and Tea shop. Everley refuses to leave the investigation to hunky police detective Grady Hayes, and her determination puts her and Aunts Fran and Clara smack in the killer's angry sights. 

Review_LAST PEN STANDING by Vivian Conroy

5 Stars!

LAST PEN STANDING (I adore that catchy title) is the most delightful first entry in author Vivian Conroy's new STATIONERY SHOP MYSTERY series, and a winning entry it is! Delta resigns from her graphic design career serendipitously to co-own a stationery shop with long-time best friend Hazel. A blessed opportunity for Delta's vision and art talent to be funneled into creative designs and comfy small-town friendships, her new career is conflicted by a local murder. Since Hazel is unfortunately drawn in, Delta speeds to cleverly investigate, companioned by a former police detective and his retired K-9, the enterprising Spud. LAST PEN STANDING delves deep, then leaves the reader feeling very satisfied.